Starhawk (PS3)
Developer: LightBox Interactive, SCE Santa Monica Studio
Genre: Action \ Third-Person Shooter
Platform: PS3
Price (As On 19-Jun-2012): Rs 2800 (Flipkart.com, Game4u.com)


The spiritual successor to the 2007 PS3 game Warhawk, Starhawk dives headlong into the league of third-person shooters. Set in a distant future, the game explores various styles of play in diverse settings. Opening doors to new gameplay mechanics, the game is a refreshing change from its predecessor. How much of this translates into an exciting shooter experience, is what we are here to find out.
 

Emmett Graves is an unlikely lead, who seems to have borrowed Drake's scarf from Uncharted 3.

Whatever Happened To Exciting Narratives?
You play as Emmett Graves, learning about his past and his partner Cutter early on in the game. The plot revolves around an energy form dubbed as Rift Energy, and how it has led to a war that doesn’t seem to have an end. Parallels between the mining Rifters, their greed for the resources, and a penchant for bonded labourers are quite apparent here.

Interestingly, the game has been designed in such a way that it barely makes any difference whether or not the writers justify the flow of the narrative. In all honesty, it's this very element that dilutes the effectiveness of the game. None of the characters leave an imprint on you, thereby taking away any charm the story would have offered otherwise. However, thanks to the fact that the single-player campaign lasts for not more than 6 hours, you are saved from a prolonged misery.
 

Guns may be boring, but the graphics aren't.

Smashing Combat
Set against a backdrop reminiscent of the wild west, the game provides you with a multitude of weapons. It also keeps you constantly on your toes, as a major part of it requires you to strategise your plans before unleashing an attack. The run system isn’t very impressive and lacks speed. This can be frustrating for those used to concluding fights with just a few bullets.

The Build and Battle system brings in a strategic element that lets you build walls, set up turrets, or simply call for vehicles. How you combine these elements holds the key to the experience. Honestly, the amalgamation works better in almost every way throughout the game, whether you are fighting in a desert or in the space.
 

Vehicular combat at its best!

There's hardly a moment devoid of action. Combat sequences are relentless and never quite let you take your eyes off the screen. Not only can you fly, but you can create a variety of defences by building walls and setting up turrets to stop attacking hordes. The game packs in a great deal of action, while allowing you to be at your creative best on strategy. Voice acting and background music are surprisingly good. The acoustics blend really well with what you see on-screen, thanks to great foley work.
 

Did you call for me?

Multiplayer Mayhem
The meat of the game lies in its multiplayer modes. As you enter the multiplayer arena, you learn soon enough that the single-player campaign is nothing more than just a training exercise. It offers a smorgasbord of play modes in Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture The Flag, and Zones. Hosting a maximum of 32 players, it immerses you in a whole lot of frenetic action.

The multiplayer modes make for a chaotic, violent set up with an intensity that makes up for the boring single-player campaign. For the fans of Capture The Flag mode, Starhawk takes it several notches up in terms of difficulty and fun. Similarly, you can establish command and power in the Zones multiplayer mode. The Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes too deliver several hours of engrossing multiplayer fun.
 

It's a bird... it's a plane... no, it's Starhawk!

Conclusion
Starhawk surprised me with its multi-layered fighting mechanics and game design. The variety of weapons work well with the Build and Battle system to make for an excellent action experience. Although the single-player campaign is ordinary, the multiplayer mode more than makes up for it with its intensity and varied modes. Multiplayer is what Starhawk is all about, and it's worth picking up if that's what you're primarily looking for. 

Gameplay: 3.5/5
Graphics: 3.5/5
Sound: 4/5
Mojo: 4/5

Overall Rating: 3.5

TAGS: Gaming, PlayStation, Sanali